Build your best decks and open up your Duel Disks, because it’s time to d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-duel! If you’re looking to brush up on everything that Duel Monsters has to offer in anime form, then look no further than this handy Yu-Gi-Oh! watch order guide. Based on the Shonen Jump manga first published by the late, great Kazuki Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh! is a media franchise that includes several anime and an ongoing trading card game. Since 1999, people have been playing Yu-Gi-Oh! all over the world with new sets being released every year. As one of the most popular and long-standing card games of all time, Yu-Gi-Oh sets include some of the most expensive trading cards ever printed. This guide isn’t exactly an introduction to the latest metas in the competitive scene, but if you want to dive into the anime series that helped launch a global empire, here’s everything you need to know about the watch order for all the Yu-Gi-Oh! shows out there. Yu-Gi-Oh! Watch Order Yu-Gi-Oh! (27 episodes) Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999 film) Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (224 episodes) Duelist Kingdom (Episodes 1-42) Domino City Battles (Episodes 43-49) Battle City (Episodes 50-97) Virtual World (Episodes 98-121) Battle City Finals (Episodes 122-144) Pyramid of Light (2004 film) Waking the Dragons (Episodes 145-184) KC Grand Championship (Episodes 185-198) Dawn of the Duel (Episodes 199-224) The Dark Side of Dimensions (2016 film) Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (180 episodes) Season 1 (Episodes 1-52) Season 2 (Episodes 53-104) Season 3 (Episodes 105-156) Season 4 (Episodes 157-180) Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds (154 episodes) Season 1 (Episodes 1-26) Season 2 (Episodes 27-64) Season 3 (Episodes 65-92) Bonds Beyond Time (2010 film) Season 4 (Episodes 93-134) Season 5 (Episodes 135-154) Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal (73 episodes) Season 1: Number Hunter (Episodes 1-25) Season 2: World Duel Carnival (Episodes 26-49) Season 3: World Duel Carnival Finals (Episodes 50-73) Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal II (73 episodes) Barian Invasion (Episodes 74-98) Mythrian Number War (Episodes 99-123) Barian Emperor Onslaught (Episodes 124-146) Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V (148 episodes) Season 1 (Episodes 1-49) Season 2 (Episodes 50-99) Season 3 (Episodes 100-148) Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS (120 episodes) Season 1 (Episodes 1-46) Season 2 (Episodes 47-103) Season 3 (104-120) Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens (92 episodes) Season 1 (Episodes 1-52) Season 2 (Episodes 53-92) Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! (151 episodes) Season 1 (Episodes 1-51) Season 2 (Episodes 52-102) Season 3 (Episodes 103-151) Yu-Gi-Oh! (27 Episodes) Affectionately referred to as “Season 0” by the fans, this series was the first anime adaptation of Takahashi’s manga that premiered in 1998 and was only ever released in Japan. Like its successor, it follows Yugi Muto, a young boy who lacks self-confidence but loves all forms of games. After solving the mysterious Millennium Puzzle, he becomes host to an ancient gambling spirit who uses Dark Games to punish evildoers and subject them to disturbing punishments should they lose. Though it never received an official international release, fans all over the world regard the series as a darker but more exciting version of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! lore. Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999 film) In this short follow-up to the original anime, Yugi and his alter ego Yami Yugi help a boy named Shogo Aoyama, who becomes targeted by egomaniacal game company CEO Seto Kaiba after pulling a rare Duel Monsters card. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (224 episodes) RELATED: Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Game The Chronicles Launches Short Anime Web Series Duelist Kingdom (Episodes 1-42) It’s here that we can finally dig into the Yu-Gi-Oh! that everyone knows and loves. The series kicks off with the Duelist Kingdom tournament. After Maximillion J. Pegasus steals his grandpa’s soul with his Millenium Eye, Yugi/Yami Yugi and his friends travel to Duelist Kingdom. Here, the Yugis must participate in a Duel Monsters tournament for the chance to face Pegasus and win his grandpa’s soul back. Competing against him is Seto Kaiba, who’s out to reclaim his little brother’s soul from Pegasus by any means necessary. All the while, Yugi and Yami Yugi delve deeper into the mystery behind Yami Yugi’s origins as an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, which are somehow tied to the creation of Duel Monsters. Domino City Battles (Episodes 43-49) In this brief reprieve after winning Duelist Kingdom, they return to their home of Domino City. Here, Yugi and his friends encounter all sorts of threats and eccentric characters. Among them are the Big Five, Kaiba’s nefarious Board of Directors at Kaiba Corp, and Ryuji Otogi, an aspiring game creator. Battle City (Episodes 50-97) Using brand new dueling technology, Kaiba hosts a tournament of his own called Battle City. Though most Duelists participate in the competition as a chance to show their stuff, Kaiba uses it as a front to gather the Egyptian God Cards, monster cards of untold power who share their origins with Yami Yugi. Yugi and his friend Jounouchi compete in Battle City as well, facing off against the mysterious Marik Ishtar and his Rare Hunters who aim to collect the God Cards and rule the world. RELATED: Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection Is Worthy of a Duel Virtual World (Episodes 98-121) On the way to the Battle City Finals, Yugi and his friends become trapped in a virtual reality. Here, the Big Five led by a mysterious boy named Noah attempt to defeat Yugi and his friends in order to take over their bodies and escape into the real world. Battle City Finals (Episodes 122-144) The Battle City tournament approaches an intense conclusion. The finalists include Yugi/Yami Yugi, Kaiba, Jounouchi, and Marik, who has been taken over by the evil spirit within his Millenium Rod. Pyramid of Light (2004 film) In this original theatrical story, Yugi faces off against an ancient evil spirit called Anubis, who escapes his Egyptian imprisonment to try and rule the world. Waking the Dragons (Episodes 145-184) After winning the Battle City tournament and collecting all of the Egyptian God Cards, Yugi and his friends take the time to try and discover more about Yami Yugi’s past. Their offtime is short-lived, however, as an evil organization led by a ruler named Dartz steals them away. What’s more, they use a powerful new Duel Monsters card known as the Seal of Orichacos, which steals the soul of whoever loses a duel with it in effect. In order to combat this new threat, Yugi, Kaiba, and Jounouchi must make use of their new legendary dragon cards to stop them. RELATED: No Anime Characters Have It Worse Than Yu-Gi-Oh! Villains KC Grand Championship (Episodes 185-198) After traveling the world to defeat Dartz, Yugi and his friends find themselves stranded. Taking advantage of their plight, Kaiba extends to them an invitation to his new tournament, the KC Grand Championship, in exchange for tickets back home. Dawn of the Duel (Episodes 199-224) In the final arc of the series, Yugi and his friends finally travel to Egypt to uncover the truth behind Yami Yugi’s origins. To that end, they have one final face off against Bakura, their longtime friend who has become possessed by the spirit of his Millenium Ring. Their journey takes Yami Yugi back 5,000 years into his past, where he discovers his true nature as a pharaoh and the tragic story behind the creation of Duel Monsters. The Dark Side of Dimensions (2016 film) Six months after Yami Yugi passes on to his Egyptian afterlife, Yugi and his friends are preparing to graduate high school and contemplate their own futures. Meanwhile, Kaiba seeks to reconstruct the Millenium Puzzle in order to duel the pharaoh once more. Meanwhile, a mysterious man named Diva seeks revenge against both of them for a past transgression. Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (180 episodes) In the first spin-off to the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, it’s time to go back to school. Yu-Gi-Oh! GX follows a new generation of duelists who attend the prestigious Duel Academy to become the best competitors that Duel Monsters has to offer. The school, created by Seto Kaiba himself, is divided into three houses named after the three Egyptian God Cards: the elite Obelisk Blue class, the well-studied Ra Yellow class, and the scrappy Slifer Red class. The main protagonist, Judai Yuki, is a foolhardy and lazy student who finds himself placed in the Slifer Red class. However, he uses his Elemental Hero deck to run circles around higher-ranking students and even professors at the Academy. He also has the ability to see the “Duel Spirits” of certain monster cards, particularly that of the Winged Kuriboh gifted to him by Yugi Muto himself. All kinds of hijinks and mystical mayhem ensue as Judai tries to graduate Duel Academy and become the next king of games. Season 1 (Episodes 1-52) In the show’s early days, Judai spends his days making friends with students from all three classes. Despite his low grades and lack of interest in his studies, his passion for Duel Monsters make him a prodigal duelist who becomes well known throughout Duel Academy. During this season, he becomes one of the “Keykeepers,” duelists in charge of safeguarding the three Sacred Beast cards. Season 2 (Episodes 53-104) Judai finds a new rival in Edo Phoenix, a vengeful duelist who uses Destiny Hero cards to give Judai’s E-Heroes a run for his money. Edo brings with him an evil organization called the Society of Light. Led by the mysterious Takuma Saiou, the Society aims to brainwash the student populace in their ongoing quest to rule the world. Judai must use the power of his new Neo-Spacian deck in order to put an end to Saiou’s plans and save the world. RELATED: On Kazuki Takahashi, A Brilliant Creator of Manga and Monsters Season 3 (Episodes 105-156) Transfer students from different branches of Duel Academy arrive at Judai's school, including Johan Andersen and his Crystal Beast deck. The two of them become fast friends and intense rivals, especially through their shared ability to see Duel Spirits. However, their dueling skills are put to the test as the Supreme King begins to emerge, threatening both Judai’s world and the world of the Duel Spirits. The ensuing battles not only take a toll on the students of Duel Academy, but they also force Judai to face the darkest parts of his own psyche. Season 4 (Episodes 157-180) With graduation on the horizon, the students at Duel Academy face uncertain futures. After accepting the Supreme King as part of himself, Judai becomes a more intense and serious duelist, eschewing the enjoyment of the game he once had for quick and ruthless wins. All the while, an entity known as Darkness begins to prey on students’ dark thoughts and drag them all down to the World of Darkness. Judai and his friends must make one last effort to save the world all while forging their own paths extending beyond Duel Academy. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds (154 episodes) It’s the distant future in the dystopian setting of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds' ' Neo Domino City. A disaster called Zero Reverse splits the city into two parts: the wealthy and elite cityscape and the junk-filled, poverty-stricken district of Satellite. As class divide invades every facet of Neo Domino City living, Duel Monsters still reign supreme throughout the world. What’s more, it’s taken on a new form called Riding Duels in which duelists take to the streets on D-Wheels (futuristic motorcycles outfitted with Duel Disks) and compete against each other in high-octane Duels. At the center of this cyberpunk world is Yusei Fudo, a Satellite resident and skilled Riding Duelist who uses his mechanical skills and Duel Monster prowess to defy the oppressive society in which he lives. However, he has yet to discover his true destiny as a Duelist and his ties to a mysterious dragon deity. The show also introduces Synchro Summoning as a new mechanic. Season 1 (Episodes 1-26) After hobbling together a new D-Wheel from scraps, Yusei attempts to escape Satellite for a chance at revenge against his former ally, Jack Atlas. The two of them had previously run in the same gang together in Satellite and struggled together to survive. Unfortunately, Jack betrays Yusei and their gang by stealing both his D-Wheel and Yusei’s precious Stardust Dragon card. As Yusei seeks to reclaim his dragon, they and a few other chosen duelists begin to learn about their nature as Signers, people marked by parts of a dragon and have ties to an ancient civilization. Season 2 (Episodes 27-64) As the truth behind the Signers and the Zero Reverse disaster come to light, Rex Goodwin and his army of Dark Signers emerge and seek to destroy the world. Yusei and the other Signers — which include Jack, the psychic Aki Izayoi, the young and gifted Luna, Yusei’s fellow gang member Crow Hogan, and later Luna’s twin brother Lua — must work together with the power of their dragon cards to stop Rex from enacting his evil plans. Season 3 (Episodes 65-92) After defeating the Dark Signers, Neo Domino City has been reformed with Satellite no longer being split off from the abundance of the rest of the city. But as the Signers prepare for the World Racing Grand Prix, the Emperors of Iliaster emerge from the shadows to enact their own evil plot. Bonds Beyond Time (2010 film) This film takes place within the events of Season 3 of 5Ds . In this epic crossover event, Yusei travels through time and must team up with both Judai Yuki and Yugi Muto to stop an entity called Paradox from eliminating Dual Monsters from history. RELATED: How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love Yu-Gi-Oh! Season 4 (Episodes 93-134) With the WRGP officially underway, the Emperors of Iliaster go into full swing. Yusei and his Team aim for the top while trying to stop the Emperors, but revelations of the future make them question everything they know about Synchro Summoning and Dual Monsters. Season 5 (Episodes 135-154) With the Emperors of Iliaster reaching the final phase of their plan, Yusei and the other Signers put everything on the line to save the world and strive for a new future for Neo Domino City. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL (73 episodes) Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL takes place in the futuristic Heartland City, where Yuma Tsukumo strives to become a Duel Monsters champion, though his skills as a duelist leave much to be desired. During a battle with his rival Shark, Yuma encounters a mysterious spirit named Astral who helps him win. Astral reveals that he has lost all his memories and that they’ve taken on the form of 99 Xyz Monster cards. These numbered cards have the power to possess their duelists. In order to restore Astral’s memories, he and Yuma team up to collect the Numbers and save the duelists who wield them. Season 1: Number Hunter (Episodes 1-25) Yuma and Astral’s hunt for the Numbers begins. Along the way, Yuma finds a new rival in Kite Tenjo who collects the Numbers for his own gains and can steal the soul of a Numbers-wielding duelist. Yuma also learns of the different dimensions of Astral World and Barian World and how their convergence could spell disaster for Earth. Season 2: World Duel Carnival (Episodes 26-49) The quest for Astral’s memories and the rest of the Numbers continues at the World Duel Carnival. As the competition heats up, Yuma and Astral must use their new ZEXAL power to win and fend off evildoers out for the Numbers. Season 3: World Duel Carnival Finals (Episodes 50-73) With the support of Astral and his friends, Yuma manages to make it to the finals. As the bonds between Yuma and his allies become stronger than ever, the battle for the Numbers rages on. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL II (73 episodes) RELATED: 4 Things Yu-Gi-Oh! Teaches Us About Crafting Good Anime Side Characters Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL II is a direct continuation of the events of Zexal. Here, Yuma and Astral take on new threats and attain new powers on their continuing quest for the Numbers. NOTE: When looking on our platform, you'll find Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL listed as one complete series instead of being broken into part one and part two. Barian Invasion (Episodes 74-98) Rulers of the Barian World begin making their move to take over Yuma’s world. With over half of the Numbers collected, Yuma and Astral must now take on evil duelists and their fearsome Barian cards and Chaos Xyz Monsters. Mythrian Number War (Episodes 99-123) Barian God Don Thousand enacts his schemes in trying to escape his imprisonment by collecting the seven Mythrian Number cards. Astral and Yuma do everything they can to stop him, all while discovering the truth behind the Barians’ existence. Barian Emperor Onslaught (Episodes 124-146) The final battle against the Barian Emperors begins. As Don Thousand and the Barian Emperors seek to warp all three worlds, Yuma and Astral must forge an even stronger bond to defeat them for good. Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V (148 episodes) In Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V , innovations in the Solid Vision technology behind Duel Disk hologram projections have allowed Duel Monsters to feel completely real. This gives rise to a whole new form of Dueling known as Action Duels, in which professional Entertainment Duelists incorporate all kinds of stunts, spectacles and death-defying acrobatics into their Duels. Yuya Sakaki is an aspiring Entertainment Duelist who wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, who vanished years prior under mysterious circumstances. In one of his Duels, however, he inadvertently creates a new type of summoning technique called Pendulum Summoning, which sends out ripples across different dimensions. Eventually, Yuya and his friends must travel across dimensions, interacting with all sorts of veterans from past Yu-Gi-Oh! series as they put a stop to the forces that threaten reality. Season 1 (Episodes 1-49) As Yuya tries to master Pendulum Summoning, he attracts the attention of the Leo Corporation and its elite Duelist president, Leo Akaba. Meanwhile, visitors from other Dueling dimensions arrive to bring a realities-spanning conflict to Yuya’s world. Among them are Yuto, a brooding young boy who specializes in Xyz Summoning; Yugo, a foolhardy Synchro Summoning Ride Duelist; and Yuri, a sadistic and cruel Fusion Summoner who comes from the Fusion dimension that seeks to rule the other worlds. Stranger still, all three visitors bear a striking resemblance to Yuya. Yuya’s friend, Yuzu Hiiragi, also encounters Serena, a girl who looks like her and also comes from the Fusion Dimension. Season 2 (Episodes 50-99) Yuya and his friends begin dimension hopping to rescue Yuzu, who was accidentally warped away from their home. Their first stop is the Synchro Dimension, where Ride Duels still reign supreme. As Yuya battles the Obelisk Force in search of Yuzu, he encounters the likes of Jack Atlas and Crow Hogan who put his Riding Duel skills to the test. Season 3 (Episodes 100-148) The fight to save reality takes Yuya and his friends to the Xyz Dimension, which has already been ravaged by the Fusion Dimension while its inhabitants duel to survive. As Yuya and Yuzu uncover the truth behind theirs and their doppelgangers’ existence, the fate of Duel Monsters and all realities rests on their shoulders. Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS (120 episodes) In the distant future of Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS ' Den City, Duel Monsters have gone virtual. Duels can now take place in a virtual reality space called LINK VRAINS and Duelists can create and embody their own avatars. After a hacker organization called the Knights of Hanoi threatens the safety of LINK VRAINS, young hacker Yusaku Fujiki faces off against them under the guise of Playmaker. Using brand new Link Summoning and the assistance of the mysterious Ai, an “Ignis” AI program with free will, Playmaker takes on the Knights of Hanoi in cybernetic Speed Duels. Season 1 (Episodes 1-46) As Yusaku takes on various members of the Knights of Hanoi, he begins to discover Ai’s origins as a being of the digital dimension known as Cyberse World. He is aided by two Charisma Duelists named Blue Angel and Go Onizuka as they learn more about the Knights and SOL Technologies, the creators of LINK VRAINS. Season 2 (Episodes 47-103) Several months after defeating the Knights of Hanoi, Yusaku begins to encounter other Duelists with Ignis partners like Ai. This includes Takeru Homura, who duels under the moniker Soulburner and is allied with the Ignis Flame. The two Speed Duelists soon find themselves embroiled in the ongoing war between humanity and the Ignis, the latter of whom are led by the AI Bohman and the Light Ignis Lightning. Season 3 (104-120) Bohman’s defeat is not without sacrifice as several Ignis give their lives in the process. Following Bohman’s downfall, Ai takes on a new human form and seeks to take over SOL Technologies for his own gains. Yusaku must now battle his former ally as Ai’s quest for revenge puts humanity in danger. Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS (92 episodes) Image via Hulu If there’s one thing that elementary school student Yuga Ohdo loves more than Duel Monsters, it’s inventing. Using a Duel Disk of his own creation, Yuga quite literally reinvents the game by implementing his own ruleset. After defeating a master Duel Monsters AI, he introduces the entire world to Rush Duels, which allow players to engage in more fast-paced Duels. With more monsters, cards, and combos at players’ disposal, Yuga sets out to revitalize the world of Duel Monsters. Season 1 (Episodes 1-52) Yuga faces off against all sorts of duelists, many of whom don’t accept his Rush Duels right away. Meanwhile, the mysterious Goha Corporation oversees his actions. Season 2 (Episodes 53-92) As the world begins to delight in Rush Duels, Yuga and his friends are soon made to face off against the Goha Six Siblings. Yu-Gi-Oh! GO RUSH!! (151 episodes) Image via Hulu Taking place prior to the events of Sevens , this prequel follows twin siblings Yuhi and Yuamu Ohdo, who both own an oddjob business called UTS. They soon encounter an alien being named Yudias, who arrives on Earth to learn about Rush Duels so that he may use this knowledge to help end the ongoing conflict on his home planet. Season 1 (Episodes 1-51) Yudias, Yuhi, and Yuama take on Zuwijo Zwil Velgear, Yudias’ superior officer who wants to use Rush Duels to force an end to the war on their planet without necessarily achieving peace. Season 2 (Episodes 52-102) The main protagonists are caught in a time travel bonanza as they learn about the paradoxical origins of Rush Duels thanks to a familiar face from the past. Or in this case, the future. Season 3 (Episodes 103-151) Yudias and Yuhi find themselves at odds with Yuamu, who now leads the Dark Matter Empire so that she may set the stage for her descendent, Yuga Ohdo, to exist. As the past, present, and future clash, Yudias and Yuhi strive for a timeline where they can all be happy. MORE ANIME WATCH ORDER GUIDES SPY x FAMILY Arcs in Order A Breakdown of the Gundam Timeline So Far Soul Eater Arcs in Order Fire Force Arcs in Order Yu Yu Hakusho in Order Sailor Moon in Order One Piece Arcs in Order Naruto Arcs in Order Dragon Ball Watch Order & Sagas List Cardcaptor Sakura in Order Dr. STONE in Order OVERLORD in Order Fairy Tail in Order Haikyu!! in Order Black Butler in Order My Hero Academia in Order (Plus Movies)
